The Maryville times. (Maryville, Tenn.) 1884-1944, 1887-11-09

matter.
Out Of NIL that is said an o OCCASIONAL
word of wisdom may be CLEANED. but
a vast deal Of nonsense is uttered
and many inconsequent conclusions
reached. A newspaper in Milwaukee,
for instance, and one too, usually dis
tinguished for its good sense, lays
down the law that it is just and right
that man should receive more pay
than woman for the same work, be-
cause linen generally support families
while women do not, or when they do
the families are smaller than the av-
erage family supported by man."
This argument would be more im-
pressive and convincing were it not for
the fact that men doing equal work are
paid equal wages without regard to
their condition in life, whether they
are married or single or whether they
have Others dependent upon them.
Very seldom is the slightest discrimina-
ton made between male workers on
this account; and when it is attempted
protest is swift to come, not only from
the unmarried laborer, but from his
fellow-laborers who are heads Of fami-
lies. 1t is felt to be unjust, and it is
promptly urged and insisted upon
that the pay is to be regulated by the
service performed and not by the per-
sonal needs of the worker.
! One point on which the students Of
social phenomena agree in accounting
for the low wages paid to women is
that women labor under the disadvan-
tages of traditional opinion which
assigns them to an inferior position in
the worlds economy. Owing to this.
it is argued that men find it difficult to
acknowledge their work to be equal
or, doing so. to admit that they de-
serve a like compensation. Unques-
tionably this feeling does exist. Many,
even among those who pride them
selves upon their liberality ofscntiment.
are unconsciously affected by it, and
prejudiced against the practical opera
ton Of their beautiful theories of the
equality ofthe sexes. A glaring proof
of the existence of this belief is seen in
the Government service at Washing
ton. where hundreds of women, work
ing side by, side with men or succeed
ing to desks formerly occupied by men.
and doing the same work, receive sal-
aries only half as large. The Govern
ment departments being, it is COM
monty supposed, under control of the
most enlightened men of the country,
what can becxpected Of private individ-
uals whose self-interest is in a perpetua-
ton of the prejudice?
There is however, feature Of the
matter seldom touched on in disserta-
tons on the subject, which accounts in
part for the disadvantages under which
women labor, and removes portion
of the blame from the shoulders of men
where it is usually placed.
1t is but just to say that women arc
themselves partially responsible for
the expressions to which they are sub
ject. Whether it is an indication of
inferiority. or the result of generations
Of masculine supremacy, it is true that
qualities inherent in the nature OF
women impedes their progress as wage
earners. Most women lack self asser-
ton, and are timid about pushing their
own claims to preferment They are
also submissive to the existing order
Of things-not to the extent of accept
ing it as right, but to degree which
makes it 'diflicul. for reformers to
rouse them to active protest. Now.
it is the way Of the business world that
the man who succeeds financially, who
gets the high salaries, whose services
are eagerly sought for, whose opinions
carry weight is self-confident, self
assertive and quick to demand his
rights. The first two traits lead the
community in general and his emplOy.
ers in particular to accept him at his
own valuation; compliance with his
claims, after that is matter of course.
1t is desirable that merit. however
modest, should be recognized and duly
appreciated; but, unfortunately. this
lis not apt to be the case. 1t is only in
Sunday-school books and apocryphal
tales related for the encouragement oi
youth that the rich merchant, Of his
own motion, rapidly advances hi.
worthy employees and takes the mos
talented into partnership without so
licitation. In real life the favored one
insists directly and indirectly that h
! is entitled to the promotion, and ere
ates the impression that he is the on,
that renders the service by accepting
the advancement. Women are not tn,
, only ones who suffer from lack of tn
quality known rs push" The worlt
is full of men who have plodded on
8 half recompensed, through Lifetime
!. of labor. while early companions witt
a far less ability have, by sheer force o
self-sufficiency and self-assertion, gon'
on to wealth and prosperity.
q Women. however, are uniforml,
q timid, and. as class, are under dis
a advantage in the struggle for a liveli
hood Whether it is better that the
d should cultivate the aggressive sell
J. confidence and talent for hOldin
o their own, or whether they should con
;. tinue to toll meekly for whatever pi!
a lance is bestowed upon them. depend
larnolr nno, tho mint of view-L II